The Mail Bag
Man-mark Gerrard
Comments (20)
Surely it's time to man-mark Gerrard? Without him they're just an average team. I remember a few years back when United played Arsenal in a top-of-the-league clash and Phil Neville had to man-mark Veira. I don't think he touched the ball all game with Neville being outstanding.
So tell Phil, "wherever he goes, you go." I honestly think if we keep Gerrard out of the game we'll win comfortably.
Tom McGrath, Posted 26/01/2009 at 15:42:04
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You can’t man mark a centre mid, simply because he will always get touches of the ball by being in the thick of the action. Get stuck in to him, shut him down etc, by all means, but you will never stop him seeing some of the ball.
Man-marking can still work in the right circumstances, I think it is a pretty good idea Tom, I am with you.
Gerrard's been doing a bit of man marking himself recently. Just ask that DJ in Southport.
Yes, just as Liverpool felt man-marking Cahill for corners ?old hat,? this zonal marking has worked brilliant for them the last 2 games. Gerrard should be man marked, although I believe Castillo tried to some extent but simply couldn't get near him. I don't think we have a player good enough to do the job, Castillo just wasn't urgent enough, quick enough and didn't want it enough. Maybe PN should do the job next time.
On the arguement of man-marking, I remember an unfashionable Leicester City beating a fashionable Ravenelli & Juninho blessed Middlesborough by simply putting Pontus Kaamark on Juninho. The little playmaker was nullified and therefore cut off the supply to the dangermen and Leicester went on to win the cup. Gerrard is World Class, so sometimes you have to break the norm to take him out of the game. Neville would be intelligent to take care of him and let the other players play 9v9?
The point's not a bad one... just we haven't got anyone good enough to do it!
Danny, Gerrard should be man-marked, IMO, when he plays behind the lone striker and when he’s not playing as an orthodox midfielder. As I said on the previous discussion, none of their other options in midfield is going to get forward to take advantage of the space that might be created. They’re too defensive. Funny that, giving that wanker Benitez’s comments.
Man-marking has never really been an English thing and does seem to be a dying trade.
However, in this case I think it’s definately a good idea. Moyes needs to be more brave in his tactics and do something different from the ’norm’.
Man-marking Gerrard would certainly nullify Liverpool whilst Jags can keep Torres quiet. The only downside is having someone good enough to do it. Castillo and Rodwell certainly are not good enough which just leaves Neville. If Neville can do the job, we can win. If Gerrard gets the better of Neville then there will be more space in front of him to do what he wants.
Even if we put 2 players such as Neville and Rodwell on Gerrard to make sure, it would be worth it.
However, in this case I think it’s definately a good idea. Moyes needs to be more brave in his tactics and do something different from the ’norm’.
Man-marking Gerrard would certainly nullify Liverpool whilst Jags can keep Torres quiet. The only downside is having someone good enough to do it. Castillo and Rodwell certainly are not good enough which just leaves Neville. If Neville can do the job, we can win. If Gerrard gets the better of Neville then there will be more space in front of him to do what he wants.
Even if we put 2 players such as Neville and Rodwell on Gerrard to make sure, it would be worth it.
If the man you?re marking is that good ? like Alan Ball was ? you just lose a player. In today?s game, the ref is likely to book the marker on the third tackle. The Italians would then switch the marker. Would we do this?
Gerrard went down with cramp last night. It's a shame he scored first, but he had to hurt himself to try to improve on this because of the way we played.
The next few games will be played in exactly the same way.
Gerrard went down with cramp last night. It's a shame he scored first, but he had to hurt himself to try to improve on this because of the way we played.
The next few games will be played in exactly the same way.
ps: Tony Marsh - nice comment. I was scouring the supermarket shelf today looking for the ’Gerrard Bails Them Out’ headline, but may have missed it.
I’ve heard Gerrard’s on his way to Walton on a 3 year deal. I hope he is anyway!
In the 50's sir Stanley Matthews was the man most tightly marked. In Stanley's last appearance for Blackpool at Goodison he was man marked by Don Donavon, our hard tackling no nonsense Irish fullback. For 85 minutes, Don stuck to the Maestro like the proverbial shit to a blanket and Mathews did not get a smell of the ball.
In the last 5 minutes the Wizard managed three times to get a yard clear to recieve the ball and laid on three unmissable goals. In next to no time we saw a 2 goal lead turn into a 2-3 defeat. This shows that, when man-marking fails, it can create havoc for the rest of the defence. At the same time, I do not equate Stevie G(BH) with the truly great Matthews.
PS. I like your post Tony.
Although very good reasons were given before Sunday?s game... perhaps this also may add another why trying to shadow Gerrard may be a fairly ineffective tactic: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article722711.ece
First of all nice one Tony, I?m still chuckling. Secondly, you're spot on Dick.
Man-marking has lost favour because it takes out a zonal marker who could be dragged all over the pitch marking Gerrard and thereby leaving space for others to get in to and, as Dick alludes to, cannot be relied on for 90 minutes.
I wouldn't normally condone this but the best form of marking Gerrard is a nice tackle Kuyt/Jimmy Case style. That would put the smarmy bastard in his place or at least get him to retaliate and risk getting sent off..
Man-marking has lost favour because it takes out a zonal marker who could be dragged all over the pitch marking Gerrard and thereby leaving space for others to get in to and, as Dick alludes to, cannot be relied on for 90 minutes.
I wouldn't normally condone this but the best form of marking Gerrard is a nice tackle Kuyt/Jimmy Case style. That would put the smarmy bastard in his place or at least get him to retaliate and risk getting sent off..
To be able to man-mark you have got to be more mobile than your opponent. Nobody at Everton can stay with him.
Phil Neville would appear to be the obvious candidate but in addition to lacking pace, we would lose his guile, leadership and incisive passing. It would be a devastating loss to lose Super Phil from his normal duites.
Phil Neville would appear to be the obvious candidate but in addition to lacking pace, we would lose his guile, leadership and incisive passing. It would be a devastating loss to lose Super Phil from his normal duites.
Danny B, I heard he?s got a bunk bed with Michael Shields.
Apart from Gerrard, the other thing we must be aware of is the quick throw-out from Reina, the quick free-kick from the wrong area, the pinching of yards at free-kicks and throw-ins,and the diving in and around the box of a number of players, followed by the nearest three players complaining to the ref for fouls and bookings. All these tactics from the most obnoxious and poor sportsman of a manager I have ever seen.
How about if we stop letting his powder puff shots go in.
Some Evertonians are really building this guy up to be the bogeyman, If Howard hadn't have made two errors, we?d have already forgot Gerrard was playing in the last couple of derbies.
The shite will tell you all day they are not bothered about this tie, so why were they were selling each other tickets for 3 times face value and why did they celebrate their poxy equaliser like they?d actually won the cup.
Benitez is worried sick, he?s thrown his big guns at this tie and they?ve been found wanting. I?m really hoping Moyesee smells blood. Time for the long term bullied to become bullies, let?s get Arteta and the Big Fella back and put these fuckers to the sword.
Some Evertonians are really building this guy up to be the bogeyman, If Howard hadn't have made two errors, we?d have already forgot Gerrard was playing in the last couple of derbies.
The shite will tell you all day they are not bothered about this tie, so why were they were selling each other tickets for 3 times face value and why did they celebrate their poxy equaliser like they?d actually won the cup.
Benitez is worried sick, he?s thrown his big guns at this tie and they?ve been found wanting. I?m really hoping Moyesee smells blood. Time for the long term bullied to become bullies, let?s get Arteta and the Big Fella back and put these fuckers to the sword.
Let?s give them the welcome they deserve at the replay at Goodison Park.... after all they will only be allowed to have 6,000 supporters won ?t they, as we had at Anfield. Should be able to drown that lot with our chanting!!
Harry - I totally agree with your assessment of they way they play. We, thanks be, are much cuter than we were just a few seasons ago.
As for El Gordo - "the most obnoxious and poor sportsman of a manager I have ever seen". Can’t add anything to that.
As for El Gordo - "the most obnoxious and poor sportsman of a manager I have ever seen". Can’t add anything to that.
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